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Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry has passed away after a brief battle with cancer.

Indiana House Democrats' 2020 Agenda: Invest In Human Capital

Lauren Chapman
/
IPB News

Indiana House Democrats say they want the state to invest in “human capital” this year – everything from paid family leave to teacher pay raises and better mental health care access in schools.

The House minority caucus unveiled its 2020 agenda Monday.

The sharpest dividing line between Democrats and Republicans in the 2020 session is becoming clearer: how to spend excess state surplus dollars. Republicans have focused on reducing future state debt by paying cash for big capital projects.

House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) has a different idea.

“Fiscally responsible investments in early education – in education from an early age – delivering more in K through 12 traditional public education and making health care more affordable and accessible,” GiaQuinta says.

Specifically, GiaQuinta says his caucus will push for, among others, measures to lower prescription drug prices, implement paid family leave and create a child care tax credit.

The 2020 session ends in mid-March.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.